Queensland Law Society has welcomed the introduction of proposed legislative changes in Queensland Parliament aimed at the removal of limitation periods on child sex abuse compensation claims.

QLS president Bill Potts said the Society had long called for this legislative change to allow victims of sex abuse to have access to justice.

Mr Potts’ comments come a fortnight after the Palaszczuk Labor Government announced the proposed changes and three weeks after LNP called for similar reforms.

“QLS is thrilled the proposed legislation has been tabled in state Parliament and will, when passed, remove the statute of limitations for victims of institutionalised sexual abuse later this month,” he said.

“QLS has previously made submissions to the State Government that this was the appropriate direction in which to go. It will allow people who have suffered from institutional child abuse to have access to justice.

"Failing to remove the time limits would allow the perpetrators of sexual abuse the comfort that comes with the expiration of those limits – a comfort forever denied their victims. Seeing their tormentors brought to justice might afford the victims some measure of closure.”

Mr Potts said the knowledge abusers can be made to face the consequences of their actions may be enough to bring other victims forward and perhaps prevent further abuse.

“We should not deceive ourselves that all victims have as yet come forward, and it is important that we find them so that their healing can begin,’’ he said.

Mr Potts said it was a positive sign that both the state Labor and LNP parties had taken a bi-partisan approach to such an important issue."